Yavapai Lodge

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is about 1,000 feet lower than the North Rim, meaning the vegetation and wildlife are a bit different. From Hermit's Rest, you can hear the Colorado River, 1 mile below.

Watching the vultures soar, riding the thermals, was fun, especially with the ravens dancing around them doing acrobatics and playing games.

Hiking, horse/mule riding, and biking are great ways to see the Park and the natural wonders. You have to get down into the Canyon to really appreciate its vastness and splendor. If you only stay at the top of the rim, it's not going to impact you and impress you as much as getting out, away, and into the canyon.

This hotel has a green procurement program, ensuring that much of the supplies they buy are environmentally friendly.

This hotel wasn't fancy, but it was beautifully situated in the park and very clean. You have a choice of the East and West wings; I let the reservation agent talk me into the East wing because of wanting to sleep-in, but I wish I'd gone with my gut about going with theh West wing because the rooms look like they have more character -- and the porch covering shaded the rooms amply for sleeping in.

The educational materials about the environment are abundant. Guests learn not only about what the hotel and Park are doing, but what they can do themselves when they aren't at the Park. There was no sense of austerity or deprivation at all because of their environmental activism.

The rooms not only had individual climate control, but also occupancy sensors; both great ways to manage energy resources. Other energy conservation measures include the use of CFL and fluorescent bulbs throughout the property.

The wastebaskets were not lined with plastic bags and were cleaned between uses. They weren't pretty, but they were functional (and pretty wastebaskets with plastic bag liners aren't pretty).

The towels were cotton, but the lack of tags kept us from determining what the cotton content of the sheets was. There were no pillow liners under the pillow cases -- that doesn't seem sanitary to me. And the bed pad was smaller than the mattress, creating a bit of an uncomfortable line under the bottom sheet (which was a flat sheet rather than a fitted sheet).

The shower head seemed like a low-flow head, but the toilets haven't been changed out yet to low-flow. The water pressure was great!

The shower curtains were fabric and looked quite nice.

We loved opening our windows because it not only let in the wonderful Ponderosa Pine forest smell and fresh air, but also the sound of the birds.

The use of electric and bio-diesel buses through the park is helping keep the air clean. After February 28 cars aren't allowed to drive through the park and guests are shuttled conveniently from one view and hiking spot to another.

The restaurants serve eco-friendly food. We didn't eat at many of the dining establishments, but the effort is there and the quality too.